Types of detraction

[timeandeternity]

The Catechism defines detraction as revealing the faults of another to someone who didn’t know about them. Detraction becomes mortal when these faults are very serious and/or when revealing the person’s faults will seriously damage their reputation.
There’s one thing I’m not quite clear on, though. Obviously, if someone were to say, “You know Mr. So-and-so, the guy who lives just down the street? Well, you’ll never believe it–he was in jail for abusing his wife, and he’s been an alcoholic for years!”–that would be mortal. But what if someone’s talking about a movie star (for example) to someone who doesn’t know anything about them, and says the same type of thing about them? Would this be any different since the person in question is well-known, and this information about them is probably readily available online and elsewhere?
The reason I ask is that I was talking with some people tonight, and we were discussing drug and sex addiction and abuse, and there were several times when someone said something like, “The husband of such-and-such an actress used to choke her and beat her,” or “Such-and-such a famous singer had serious problems with drug and alcohol addiction,” when most of the other people in the group didn’t know this. It wasn’t malicious, and it was always pertaining to the discussion we were having, but I’m not sure if that made the detraction any less grave. (name removed by moderator)ut would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Sirach2]

Our sins are judged by God primarily by the intention of the act. Nine times out of ten, whenever we speak about someone such as your guy down the street, there is a hidden pleasure in disclosing the person’s character and demeaning them to the listener.

Your second example is purely a gossip session, absent any real pleasure or satisfaction in disclosing the well-known facts, IMO. But charity always prompts us to consider …
Is it true?
Is it necessary?
Is it kind?
There may be venial matter here, I’m not sure since I can’t read the intention in the mind. But I would imagine the Holy Spirit who was present at the gab fest was not entirely glorified or pleased. Like you, I am deeply sensitive to sins of the tongue and try to avoid them as sincerely as possible, so I won’t trip over the edge into something mortally sinful.

 

[Monica4316]

I’ve thought about this too, and I think the best course of action is to only say charitable things. If something is unnecessary to say (even if it’s about a celebrity), then it’s best not to say it even if it’s not a mortal sin.

 

[PamS]

I admit, I HATE this about myself… I don’t intentionally go out to make bad of other people, just when other people say something about another person i.e. OMG she slept with so and so… I can’t but be like OMG seriously? How do you know? Is this a sin? After that I usually just make a comment about the act… Sigh… sometimes I wish I didn’t find gossip so interesting!!! Ugh… lately I’ve been trying to stay away from people like this, hopefully, it will help!

 

[Monica4316]

it’s really hard to fight this, but it’s worth it I struggle with it too sometimes!!